Old Covid masks for road construction

Researchers of the RMIT University use the protective masks no longer needed for Covid 19 containment in shredded form for the substructure of roads. Geotechnical engineer Mohammad Saberian and his team cut the masks into strips about two centimeters long, which they add to the road construction material - mostly construction debris. For one kilometer of a two-lane road, they need about three million masks, which have a total weight of 83 tons. 

One part masks, 99 parts rubble

The addition of the masking strips not only reduces the amount of waste. It also improves the properties of the material. This becomes more resistant to acids and water, and it becomes stiffer and stronger, so that the roads built with it can withstand loads better. A mixing ratio of one part masking strip and 99 parts construction waste has proven to be optimal.

Although any viruses left on the masks are unlikely to be dangerous after a few days (they usually die off after a few hours if they don't enter a body), Saberian suggests studying the environmental impact of using leftover masks. To be safe, he said, used masks can also be disinfected with microwaves. That takes minutes, he says. 

Concrete with a mask strip

"We're excited that this recycling of masks not only works, but has real technical benefits," Saberian says. He now wants to find out if other pieces of personal protective equipment used by medical personnel can be used in the same way, such as gowns that are currently discarded. Another way to use the used masks is to incorporate them into concrete. According to the scientists, they have already produced components from this material. 

Source: pressetext.editorial office